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Seasonal Production and Biomass of the Seagrass, Halodule wrightii Aschers. (Shoal Grass), in a Subtropical Texas Lagoon

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Abstract

A study of Halodule wrightii in a shallow subtropical Texas lagoon was performed to obtain seasonal data on its physiological ecology. Leaf production and biomass dynamics of H. wrightii were intensively monitored along with the underwater light environment at a 1.2-m depth study site over a 21-month period from June 1995 to February 1997. The annual photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) flux of 6,764 mol m−2 year−1 was more than twice as high as 2,400 mol m−2 year−1, the minimum annual PAR required for maintenance of growth. As light intensity declined, blade chlorophyll a/b ratios increased suggesting that the plants were photo-adapting. Seasonal trends were evident in shoot growth and biomass. Compared to other Halodule populations in Texas, H. wrightii in LLM displayed slow growth and low biomass, high leaf tissue N content, and low C/N ratio but high N/P ratio of 38 suggesting that the plants were phosphorus-limited.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to J. E. Kaldy, K-S Lee, C. Krull, S. Z. Herzka, J. White, and the University of Texas-Pan American Coastal Studies Lab staff who were very helpful during various aspects of fieldwork and discussions. We thank L. H. Hirsch for processing biomass samples. We are grateful to K. H. Dunton, J. E. Kaldy, K-S Lee, F. Judd, and R. L. Lonard for critically improving the manuscript. We appreciate the extensive computational expertise of Susan Schonberg and David Kirtley. This research was funded by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Advanced Research Program Grant #003658-419) and a grant from The University of Texas-Pan American Faculty Research Council. The CHN elemental analysis was funded by The University of Texas-Pan American James-Ware-Foltz fund. This is publication number CSS 2009-02 of the UTPA Center for Subtropical Studies.

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  1. Department of Biology, The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX, 78541, USA

    Joseph L. Kowalski, Hudson R. DeYoe & Terry C. Allison

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  1. Joseph L. Kowalski
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  2. Hudson R. DeYoe
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  3. Terry C. Allison
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Correspondence to Hudson R. DeYoe.

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Kowalski, J.L., DeYoe, H.R. & Allison, T.C. Seasonal Production and Biomass of the Seagrass, Halodule wrightii Aschers. (Shoal Grass), in a Subtropical Texas Lagoon. Estuaries and Coasts 32, 467–482 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-009-9146-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-009-9146-z

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